Acadia National Park - Pests

Non-native diseases such as beech bark disease and white pine blister rust kill trees, and can change the structure, composition, and functions of forests in Acadia. The National Park Service uses Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to manage pests. This approach is based on proper identification of a pest and a thorough understanding of the biology of the pest species being managed. It uses an "integrated" approach - that is, pests are managed only when damage reaches a pre-determined threshold, using a variety of treatments such as mechanical, physical, cultural or biological.

Chemical treatments are used only as a last resort, and only when shown to be the most effective and least damaging method of treatment.